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Successful shop In Haworth plans to ‘expand’

Cobbles and Clay owner, Jill Ross, outside her existing shop in Main Street, Haworth, and, inset, the former Ye Olde Bronte Tea Rooms and Gift Shop, where it will be moving to once renovations are complete

A shop in Haworth’s Main Street that has been empty for several years is poised to become the new home of an established nearby art cafe.

Cobbles and Clay, which is situated further down the same street, has bought the premises that once housed Ye Olde Bronte Tea Rooms and Gift Shop.

Jill Ross, who owns and manages Cobbles and Clay, said her own cafe will move into the previously disused unit further up the street.

She wants to turn her existing base into a new shop, though has still to decide what kind of retail business this will be.

Mrs Ross, who lives in Oxenhope, said Cobbles and Clay has operated successfully from its current location for nearly nine years, but added the vacant tea rooms will be more suitable.

“We bought it in November last year, and we hope to open in May,” she said. “It’s a listed building at the front, and it’s taken a long time for planning permission to come through.

“We’ll mainly be making cosmetic changes. The building hasn’t had anything done to it for a long time, and it’s been closed for a couple of years.”

Mrs Ross added: “It’s bigger than where we are at the moment, and is all on one floor, which will be better for us. We often have to turn people away when we’re too full.

“We could have carried on where we are now, but this is an opportunity for us.”

As well as food and refreshments, Cobbles and Clay also gives customers the chance to paint and buy pottery. It even received a visit and a commendation from Chancellor George Osborne during his tour of Silsden and Haworth earlier this month.